Of all the things I was expecting to come out of the BlackBerry 10 launch today, Research in Motion changing it’s name to “BlackBerry” was not one of them.

I’ll be the first to admit just a few years ago when the BlackBerry was the predominant smartphone platform in the industry, a significant number of BlackBerry users had no idea that the name of the company that built their device was Research in Motion. Even today, although RIM is a pretty popular name, many people who know the acronym, don’t know what it stands for.

I guess I can understand why RIM would change its name, but, changing the company name to the name of the product??? That one is going to have to grow on me.

Last week Research in Motion suffered the biggest BlackBerry outage in company history which affected most of Earth for the better part of 3 days. To show it’s appreciation for their patience, RIM is offering over $100 in premium BlackBerry software to BlackBerry users for free. Starting Wednesday, users will be able to download the following list of BlackBerry app from BlackBerry App World, which, will become available for download over the next 4 weeks.

In a note to investors today before Research in Motion’s annual shareholder’s meeting RBC Capital Markets Managing Director Mike Abramsky, is calling for RIM to break up it network and handset businesses in to separate companies.

RIM’s organization, like its handsets, needs modernization. By acting now, splitting RIM into network and handset businesses may target opportunities and unlock significant shareholder value. RIM’s end-to-end solution was conceived when data devices and networks were nascent — but times have changed…

It’s clear that Research in Motion’s focus at this year Consumer Electronics Show is laser targeted on the BlackBerry PlayBook. Will, however, the company with the biggest percentage market share of smartphone users in North America announce any new additions to it’s aging lineup of BlackBerry smartphones?

Mike Lazaridis gives a 6 minute hands-on demo of the the BlackBerry PlayBook at All Things Digital’s Dive InTo Mobile Conference. The PlayBook looks smooth, fast, and, if enough developers create engaging applications for it, like it could be a hit once its released next year.

I love how Mike just pulled his PlayBook out of his jacket pocket. Everyone that is saying that a 7-inch tablet is just too small is flat out wrong. My guess is that most of them will come around once Apple makes it seem like 7-inch tablets was their idea, but, I digress… It looks like the PlayBook will eventually come in other sizes as well…

Back at the end of September at the BlackBerry Developer’s Conference, Research in Motion confirmed a rumor started by a company VP stating that QNX, the operating system that will make it’s RIM debut on the BlackBerry Playbook, would eventually replace the BlackBerry OS on BlackBerry devices. The big question in everyone’s mind is how long it will take for this to become the case, and, and if RIM will release a new wave a BlackBerry devices that run possibly an update to BlackBerry 6, or, maybe even BlackBerry 7.

BlackBerry 6 is really just hitting the scene

BlackBerry 6 is really just starting to get its legs under it. It is now offered out of the box on the BlackBerry Torch, the BlackBerry Style, and the BlackBerry Bold 9780 and we know that the BlackBerry Bold 9650, Bold 9700, Curve 3G, and Pearl 3G will eventually be upgradable to BlackBerry 6. One would have to imagine that any unknown, but, soon to be released BlackBerry devices would also run BlackBerry 6, however, the only real rumor of a new BlackBerry anywhere close to being released is the BlackBerry Storm 9570, for which there are as many rumors stating that this device has been scrapped as there are stating that it is coming.

A better question to ask

I can’t fathom that there is a QNX based BlackBerry coming anytime before we are well in to the second half of 2011, and, thus, it seems likely that there will be new BlackBerry devices out before then. Maybe a better question to ask is if the next wave of BlackBerry devices will be seen as lame ducks until a QNX based lineup hits the shelves?

Something tells me that unless we see some major changes in the direction that Research in Motion is going we will see another big drop on the 2011 list assuming RIM even makes the cut. When it comes to consumers that buy smartphones, unless you just want a BlackBerry, there are much more compelling options available. Depending on which report your read most BlackBerry users don’t even want new BlackBerry devices. That can’t bode well for RIM…

As much as the the blogosphere, myself included, have been ragging on BlackBerry maker Research in Motion, the company still sells a ridiculous number of smartphones. Shipping 10.6 million devices between January and March, RIM is now the world’s 4th largest phone manufacturer with 3.6% market share.

According to an IDC report, the BlackBerry Curve, once again takes the number 1 spot for the most sold smartphone in the United States. Not only is the the BlackBerry Curve king of the hill, 4 other BlackBerry devices round out the top 10. That being said, I have to call BS on these numbers.

For those of you that follow Research in Motions stock price, you know that it has been rough for the the Waterloo, Ontario based company over the passed 5 or 6 weeks. Back on September 23rd, RIM’s stock (RIMM) was up over $88 per share. Yesterday it closed at $57.61.

That being said, RIM’s board has approved a stock repurchase of common shares valuing up to $1.2 billion. That comes to about 21 million shares based on current market prices. RIM can commence with the repurchase starting next Monday, Nov. 9th.

I am not an investment professional, nor do I offer financial advice. I guarantee, however, this will be discussed heavily on CNBC today, so, you may want to tune in.